Can cleaning and drying apparatus



April 19 ,'1927.-

J. OCONNELL ET AL CAN CLEANING A I !D DRYING APPARATUS Filed March 25. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "1927. Apnl J. OCONNELL ET AL CAN CLEANING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed March 25, 1925 3 SheetsSheet 2 April 19 1927. 1,625.493

J. O'-CONNELL ET AL CAN CLEANING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed March 25, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcs.

.rosnrrr OUONNELL AND naaonn HAMILTON KERR, or xnnsrueron, vie-roan,

aus'rnnma.

can ctnaume AND mwme arranarus.

Application filed March 25, 1925, Serial No. 18,116, and in Australiaseptember 27, 1924. V

This invention has been devised to provide improvements in or relating to apparatus for cleansing and drying hollow articles especially milk and cream cans, and is particularly useful for cleansing and drying milk cans, and the invention will bedescribed" herein in reference .thereto, but it is to be understood thatits use is not limited thereto, as it may be'employed for cleansing and drying other hollow articles.

The object of the invention is to provide apparatus to carry out in sequence and whilst the grid or spider is stationary, operation :of the washing, cleansing, rinsing (to remove the cleansing agent) and the drying of the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus whereby the washing, cleansing and drying operations are greatly facilit'ated durin the movements of the grid 01' spider herelnafter referred to, and by doing so reducing the period of operations to a minimum.

Another object of this invention is to pro- '25 vide apparatus to cause as the grid or spider rotates and reaches a certain point, the oping, cleansing of the interior of the can, removal of thecleansing agent and the drying of the can.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus toenable the fats and other foreign matter to be removed from the articles cleansed and to becaught and .discharged from the washing solution. i

Gil

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus to provide a' chamber through which air circulates, during which it is raised in temperature for drying urposesby action of the heat imparted rom the hot washing solution.

, mechanism on an enlarged scale.

. the grid or spider drawn to a large scale. eration of apparatus controlling the washthis invention is to pro-.

can is greatly facilitated. Provisionis also I so Fig. 1 isa rear view of a tank 'and'shell partly in section and apparatus hereinafter described. V

Fig. 2 illustrates the driving and actuating" Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the shell and tank with the cleansing, rinsing and other apparatus disposed therein, some of the parts of the actuating mechanism being removed forsake of clearness. I Fig. 4 shows a sectional plan view of a shell with a rotary grid or spider disposed therein.

Fig. 5 illustratesa partial plan view of 1 Fig. 6 illustrates a sectional elevation of the central portion of the grid or spider and itssupporting hollow pillar and vertical shaft or post.

Fig. 7 is a view of the lower spray ipes so.

and nozzles discharging the was mg liquid.

Fig. .8 illustrates an angular shaped arm. disposed in the tank and fixed to catch and direct the scum floating. on the washing liquid within the tank to an outlet positioned on the wall of same.

Fig. 9 illustrates the discharge, chute at the outlet referred to in Fig.

Fig. 10 shows the manner of attaching and holding the lower edge of theshell to the top edgeof thetan Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view! of the means employed to impart the necessary rotary movement to the washing liquid within the tank. Fig. '12 is a side elevation of a vertical operating fork supporting a shaft with cam y the rear of v I i 21 is asectional view of the lower porjlon of the tank showing an air chamber zthereimthe air forcing fan being illustrated actuating a valve to supply steam to a jet within the tank for cleansing pur oses.

Fig. .13 is an enlarged sectiona view of a rotary grid or spider stationary at a station and within a compartment rovided in a fixed shell, the springcontro ed holding arm for lid of the can being shown in the compartment.

Fig. 14 is a front view drawn to a small scale of the tank and shell with certain parts of the apparatus omitted for sake of clearness and illustrating an opening in the shell providing the station at which the can and lid are deposited on the rotary grid or spider for treatment and removed therefrom after travelling around and within the shell, during which they are cleansed and dried.

ig. 15 illustrates a wall of a compartment showin the strips of rubberhereinafter referre to. y

Fig. 16 is a sectional view of a steam manifold.

Fi 17 is a view showing an actuating hand e with-tripping dog and belt-shifter, a

return actuating spring and wheel with bite referring thereto, also being illustrated.

Fig. 18 illustrates an outer disposed vertical operating and supporting fork hereinafter described.

Fig. .19 illustrates the construction. of m lIQldBlIftQ whicheach of the air pipes is fixed. 'aiview'of a. wire gauze filter for the :washing liquid and which is disposed within the ,iylinderadjacent to the e tank whilst by defied lines within a casing disposed Olll'r' side thetank and fixed to a base plate. ,L, Fig. 22 is a sectional view ofan observation window.

- In our invention we provide a referably circular tank 1- (Fig. 14) of suita le dimensions and having disposed at its centre a vertical shaft or post 2 whose lower portioi. is

within a. hollow pillar 3v (Fig. 6) fixed to the floor 4' of the tank 1. The shaft or post 2 is held stationar b means of screw threads 5 and 6, e f ormer engaging a femalethread provided in the base block 7 fixed in an air chamber hereinafter described. .The thread 6 a female thread of. the nut 8, which when screwed home, rests upon the plate9 at the topof "the pillar 3,.

Resting and rotatin on the surface of-the" nut 8 is a circular" ange or plate 10, in-

tegral with therotary sleeve 11- having upper and lower bushbe'arings 13 and14 respectively, for the central and upper portions of theshaft or post 231i 11 whose to is reduced m diameter to provide a shou derlfi for en porting the roof 16 of aifixe'd shell; 17 here in'after pump at respective division wall 19 by a plate 22 i (Fig. 13), the length of the members 20 and the division walls 19 of each compartment being such as to ermit rotary movement of the grid or spider within the shell 17 at a position preferably a little below the top of the tank 1. The said shell 17 is supported at its top at the centre or adjacent thereto by the sleeve 11, and the lower edges are held by the lugs 23 (Figs. 10 and 14) fixed to the exterior of the tank 1 close to its top edge.

The shell 17 referred to is divided into any number of rotary compartments, five being preferred, and the roof 16 of the shell covers each respective compartment except at the receiving and discharging station. Within each compartment and hinged to the wall 19 is an angle iron arm 24 (Fig. 13) with bent end 25, a spring 26 whose ends are connected to the wall 19 and member 24 respectively is employed to provide the necessary pressure to hold firmlyduring treatment a lid or other small article on the grid 01' spider aforesaid.

The grid or spider receives rotary motion by the aidof a circular rack 27 (Fig. '13) fixed to and under the members 20 of, the

grid or spider, such rack 27 in turn receives bearing sleeve 31 fixed on the interior of the tank 1, the shaft 29 extending outwardly from the tank and running in a bearing 32 provided in a ribbed plate 33 fixed to the wall of the tank 1 on its exterior. Mounted on the said shaft 29 is the toothed wheel 34 (Figs. 1 and 2) gearin with a pinion 35 mounted on a seconds aft 36 ruiming in a bearing 37 provided in the ribbed late ,33. 'Also mountedon the shaft 36 an jacent to the pinion 35' are fast and loose pulleys 38 and 39 respectively, receiving m0- tion from the belt 40 which in turn receives motion from a driving shaft41, conveniently its rear. I

The cleansing, washing and rinsing agents are supplied b the aid of pipes having nozzles positioned desired intervals apart to permit each agent being 'delivered below, and in some instances posed close to the tank 1 preferably at for the respective purpose in the order desired. The nozzles are set at.

above according to the station and the requirements thereat, simultaneousl entering the can and lid, (not shown).

tions ,oftwo of the agents i. e. supply steam within the respective compartment to re- -move from the interior of the can any ad- 'to carry out functionsitimed according to the stationary position of the can and lid in the respective compartments. Such cams are mounted on the external portion of the honzontal shaft 29, which as stated before runs in the bearing 32 and also in the bearing 44, at the top of the post 45 which is integral with the bridge 46 bolted to the ribbed plate 33 fixed on exterior of the tank 1. The inner cam 42 has disposed on "one side a vertical operating fork 47 (Fig. 12) with roller 48 and lower lip 49 which forces downwardly the spindle 5O ofa suitable valve at 51 (Figs. 2 and 3) herewith termed the inner valve, whose nut 52 and stuffing box 53 are supported by a bridge 54 fixed to the bridge 46 and post 45, the valve at 51 is in communication with a pipe55 leading from I the steam ma'mfold 56, and entering the tank at 57, whence it is then taken around the wall of the tank to the-receiving and discharging station A, where it is bent'to provide a length to place it in a position to ensure sufiicient steam being the respective compartment for the purposes required.

The valve at 59 hereinafter termed the outer valve is similar, to the valve at 51, and

. it has also a vertical operating fork 60 (Fig. 18) with roller 61 and a lower lip 61 engaging a spindle 61* (Fig. 2) One of the members 62 of such fork is much longer than the other extending some distance above the cam 43 and on the top of such extended member 62 a suitable oil dash-pot 63 is disposed, being suspended from the adjusta e arm 64, housed in the sleeve 65 integral wi the top of the post 45. g

.The function of the dash-pot 63 is to control the movement of the fork 60 soas to fetardthe closing ofthe valve 59, and by 66 and 66 to enter I doing so allow .a quantity of boiling .water to-flow through the ipe 59 to the nozzles e respective compartment. I I The movement of the shaft 29 is controlled by a lever 67 (Fig.'17) secured to the hinged bar 68, by a bolt 69 passing through both, and a block 70 integral with a curved bar 71 .fixed to the exterior of the tank ,1

and post 45 respectively;"'*the inner endof thehinged bar 68 being] provided with a tripping dog 72 engaging a bite 73' in a wheel 74, upon the latter making one-revo lution. A spring 75 is connected to bar.68 to cause when compressed. an outward. pull on such bar to enable the trip dog 72 to' ejected'from its nozzle 58 into spring outwardly and engage the bite 73 on meeting it as the wheel 74 rotates, the action of. moving the .lever 67 outwardly swings the shifting forks 76 inwardly, and at the same time transfers the belt 40 on to the loose pulley 39, and upon the trip dog 72 engaging the bite 73, the shifting forks 7 6 move and place the belt 40 on to the fast pulley 38.

The main cleansing agent is preferably liquid caustic soda of a reduced strength, which is placed in the tank 1, and in the sequence of operations is drawn therefrom through a pipe 77 (Fig. 1) with shut oif are placed within the tank at station C and delivers the liquid caustic soda upwardly, simultaneously within the can and lid. The other nozzles 89 (Fig. 14) are placed on the roof 16 of the shell 17 and spray the liquid caustic soda downwardly striking the exterior of the can or lid, the pressure from the nozzles 88 and 89 being such that suflicient force is provided to move the foreign substances and cause them to leave the can 1 and lid. The pressure or force of the solution is adjusted or regulated to provide a compensating etfect; i. e., the pressure from the upper nozzle or. nozzles 89 prevents the can and lid being lifted by the pressure from the lower nozzle or nozzles 88. The cleansing agent, liquid caustic soda, is' maintained within the tank at the desired .temperature by passing steam into the tank by the aid of the pipes 90 and 91 (Figs. 3 andll),-

constructed toallow continuous entry at a certain point of the liquid caustic soda in a manner to receive impetus from the steam, causing the liquid causticsoda to be discharged from the pipe 91 with such force that the liquid caustic soda is compelled to maintain a circular movement within the tank,-and by doing so enable the skimming operations hereinafter described to beperformed (see Fig. 3). The construction for the vabove purpose comprises .a bridge 92, to which the tapered .end of pipe 90 is connectechsuch tapered end providing an orifice I 93 which delivers the steaminto the pipe 91' Whose inner end is 1 open to" allow continuously the liquid caustic soda to enter from the openin 94 provided b l the brid e 92 passing steam intothe tank .1. A con enser comprisingpipes 94*" (Fig. 3) arranged V-shaped is connected to the wall of the tank 1 some distance above the floor of same. The steam during its flow through such pipes 94 is condensed and provides boiling water which asses through the valve at 59 and is de ivered to the nozzles 66 at station D for rinsing purposes, while the respective compartment is stationary thereat.

The exterior wall of the shell aforesaid has a number of observation windows clamped by wing nut 95. Rubber bands 96 and 97 provide tight joints for the 'lass'98 and metal parts 99 (seeFig. 22). T is construction permits removal of the parts when desired, and at the same time 'enables a thorough inspection of the respective compartment to be made during operation.

The drying agent referably consists of hot air, which in the irst instance is sucked in through the openin 100 by a suitable fan 101 mounted on the s aft 41 (Fig. 1) and as shown in dotted lines (Fig. 21),operates in a casing 102. The air is circulated through a p1 e 103 into a chamber 104.- pro- .vided at the bottom of the tank 1, and as it circulates within such chamber 104 is raised in temperature by reason of absorption of heat from the hot liquid caustic soda within the tank 1. The hot air passes out of the chamber 104 through dupllcate members 106 each havin an o ening 105 and formed integral wit the p ate 107 fixed to the floor 108 of the air chamber 104. After assing through the openings 105 the hot a1r flows upwardly through the ipes 109 screwed into the roof; i. e., the cor of the tank 1, and the hot air as it is discharged from the mouth of the pipes 109 meets the can or lid respectively.

As before stated the movement of the grid or spider is controlled by gear comprising fast and loose pulleys 38 and 39 mounted on the shaft 36. The fast pulley 38 is of aluminium, and its lightness reduces its momentum causing an almost instantaneous stop as the respective compartment within the shell reaches the respective station.

Where five compartments are em loyed' the rack 27 makes one revolution to ve revolutions of the cams 42 and 43.

. From the above description it will be understood that the cam 42 before referred to operates the steaming supply apparatus to .remove cream and other similar adhesive substance from the interior of the can. The other cam 43 operates the rinsing nozzles;

17; this. arran ement enables a closure of the top of eac compartment, but will npt prevent rotation of the grid or spider within the shell. Fats and other foreign matter removed from the cans and lids and which float on the surface of the washin solution i. e. liquid caustic soda are move b the aid of 9. dia onally disposed arm 111 Fi. 3 and 8) w ose lower edge is submer e in the solution in a manner to catch an direct the substances referred to and discharge them through an opening 112 provided in the tank 1 before referred In operation, steam is supplied to the steam manifold 56 (Figs. 2 and 16), after which the taps 113, 114 and 115 are operated to supply steam to the nozzle 58, steam to the condenser 94", and steam to the pipe 91 within the tank to heat the liquid caustic soda and simultaneously move and agitate such liquid placed in the tank 1 previous to operations being started. Assuming that a can and lid are in four compartments and the grid or spider is stationary, and the nonoccupied compartment is in front of the station A, the driving belt 40 would be runnin on the loose pulley 39, and upon the atten ant placing the can and lid on the grid'or.

spider, face downwardly in the compartment with the arm 24 holding the lid, he operates the lever 67 to disengage the trippin dog 72 from the bite 73, simultaneously wit this action the shifting fork 76 transfers the driving belt 40 to the fast pulley 38, resulting in the gear wheels 34 and 35 being brought into action to cause the grid or spider to rotate. Simultaneously w1th this action the cams 42 and 43 are rotatin i. e., making one revolution, during which the former operates as follows-engages the roller 48,

and in doing so forces the vertical fork 47,,

and with it the spindle of the valve at 51, opening same and allowing steam to pass through the second section of the pipe and thence to the nozzle 58. The steam from the latter enters both the can and the lid. In the" meantime, the outer cam 43 also revolves and engages its roller 61 and forces the fork downwardly operating the spindle 61' and openingbthe valve at 59 to allow the boiling water 0 tained from the condenser ipes 94" to flow through the second section ofthe pipe 59 to the jets, 66. 66", the can being the respective can andlid reaching the last mentioned station andafte'r leaving station this arrangement enables the rinsing to be A, the can and lid have passed stations B performed with hot water, and steams the can and lid, leaving them in a clean conditioii, after ,which they are subjected tddrying by the hot air. The top of each. wall 19 dividing the compartments is provided with a longitudinal plate of rubber 110 (Figs. 14; and 15) or the like material which is in contact with the ceiling and wall of the shell and C. At the former station,-whilst the grid or spider is stationary, the cream and drips are falling from both, being loosened by the jet of steam from the nozzle 58--when at the station A. On reaching station 0 the can and lid receives a strong spray of liquid caustic soda, whichis supplied continuously both fromthe lower or upper spray stationary at the station marked 1). Previous to treatedcan and lid, and a fresh one nozzles 88 and 89 respectively. This action and arranged eccentrically to the periphery thoroughly removes any cream adhering to of the tank, means for entraining the liquid the can and lid, which uponbeing conveyed in the tank, throu h the conduit and thereto stationl) both are subjected to a thorough by rotating said liquid, an aperture inthe rinsing by boiling water from the nozzles tank forthe discharge of the liquid from the 66 and 66. This removes any liquid caustic latter, and a skimmer for guiding the rosoda that may. have remained in won the tat-ing liquidtoward the aperture.

can or lid. Upon the grid or spider making 4. A can cleaning apparatus, comprising its next movement, it deposits the can or lid a cylindrical collecting tank, a housing for at station E where both receive a strong blast the cans mounted above the tank, a rotary of hot air from the pipes 109, and by doing grid within the housing for su porting the so are dried. The next movement of rid alls, sp y nozzles n the i for j or spider places the now treated can an lid g a cleani g liqui in he ns n the at station A, whereupon they are 'removed grid, a curved conduit openat bothends for use, and a fresh can and lid deposited immersed in the liquid collected in the tank, upon the grid or spider for the same treatsaid conduit arranged eccentrically to the ment, periphery of the latter, and a steam dis- During the movement of the grid on charge nozzle arran ed to inject steam into spider and the cams 42 and 43, the respecone,e nd of said conduit whereby the cleantive compartments have been rotated, and mg hquld 1n the ank is entrained into the as each function is performed at the respecconduit and discharged therefrom to impart tive station, the lever 67 is operated to aca circular movement to. the liquid in the tuate the forks 76 which transfers the drivank. ing belt 40 from the fast pulley 38 to the A can cleaning apparatus, comprisingha loose pulle 39 or vice versa, cylindrical collectm tank, a housing for c It will seen that whilst the grid or nsmounted on t e tank, a rotary grid spider is stopped to allow removal of the wltlnn the housing for supporting the cans laced above the tank, spray nozzles in theitank in the compartment, the cans and-l1ds in a d housingjfor injectinga cleaning 'qiuid the other compartments are receiving treat into and on the cans carried by the gr: a ment; this enables the sequence of operasteam discharge nozzle arranged to m'ect 'tions to be carried out promptly and with steam 1nto the cans carried by the gri' a very little if any loss of time, and 1) dosteam manifold r upp yg steam s d ing so allows a, maximum number 0 cans nozzle, a' steam condenser connected with and lids to be treated within a short period. the manlfold, a a r dlscharge nozzle .in Claims: the tankfor injecting waterinto the cans, 1. A can cleaning apparatus, comprising a conduit connecting the condenser with the a cylindrical tank, a rotary grid-1i e an last named nozzle, and valves in the manisupport above the tank, means for injectin fold for controlling the flow of steam to the a cleaning liquid into and onto the cans, sai s eam discharge nozzle and to the condenser. liquid being thereafter collected in the tank, 6. A can cleanin and g apparatus, means to impart a rotary movement of the comprising a cylindrical co ecting).tank, a liquid in the tank, and a stationary skimhousing or the cans mounted 9. mar, against WhlCh the rotatin liquid tank, a rotary grid within the housing for moves, arranged to guide the liqui toward supporting cans above the tank, a steam the periphery of the tank. a manifold, a steam discharge nozzle con-' 2. A can cleaning apparatus, com rising nected with the latter arranged in the tank a cylindrical tank, a rotary grid-1' e can below the grid adapted to inject steam into support above the. tank, means for injectthe cans mounted on the grid, spray nozzles ing a cleanin liquid into and onto the cans, in the tank and housing for discharging a said liquid beingthereafter collected in the cleaning liquid into and on the cans, a contank, means to, impart a; rotary movement denser connected with .the manifold, a water of the liquid in the tank, and a stationary discharge nozzle in the tank connected with skimmer, against which the rotating liquid the condenser and-arranged to inject water moves, arranged to guide-theliquid toward into said cans and means in the tank for injecting heated air into said cans. I

7. A canfcleaning apparatus, comprising a tank, a housing mounted above the'latter, a'rotary rid w thin the housing for supporting. t e cans, mechanism including a driving shaftfor rotating the grid, a steam manifold, a steam. discharge nozzle in the the periphery ofthe tank, and an aperture in said periphery forfthe overflow of the liqui in the tank. f 3'. A can cleaning a paratus, compfising a can support, means orinjecting a cleaning liqu d into the cans onthe support, a c indrical tank-below the support to collect t e liquid discharged from the cans after tank for injecting steam the'c'ans on the 'beinginjectedinto the-latter, a curved congrid, a steam supply pipe connecting-the 'duit open at its: ends immersed in the liquid nozzle andmamfold, a condenser connected ove the with the latter, a water discharging nozzle in the tank for injecting water into the cans, a water supplypipe connecting the condenser and water discharge nozzle, valves in the steam and water supply pipes, and means on the driven shaft for actuating the valves.

8. In an apparatus for cleaning cans, a tank, a housing mounted above the latter, a rota grid within the housing for supporting t owns, an annular rack on the grad, a

means 0 erated by the movement of the driven s aft for actuating the last named valves, means for supplying a cleanin liquid to the cans, and means in the tank or impartin a rota movement to liquid collected in t e tank om the cans to facilitate the skimming of the liquid.

9. In an ap aratus for cleaning cans, a cvlindrical tan a housing mounted above the latter, a rotary grid within the housing for supporting the cans, an annular rack on the gm a driven shaft, a pinion on the latter in mesh with the rack. means for driving the shaft, a steam supply nozzle mounted in the tank, a water discharge nozzle and a condenser within the tank, a steam manifold outsidethe tank, a pipe, connecting the steam discharge, nozzle with the manifold, a pipe connecting the condenser and water (118- charge nozzle, valves in the pipes, meihis operated by the movement of the driven shaft for actuating the valves, means for supplymg a cleaning liquid to the cans, an eccentrically arranged conduit in the tank, and an injector nozzle connected with the manifold and arranged to dischar e steam into one end of the conduit there 'y entraining the cleaning liqlliid collected in the tank from the cans to eat and impart arotar motion to said tank liquid to facilitate the skimming of the latter.

10. In an apparatus for cleaning cans, a ciylindrical tank, a housing mounted above t e latter, a rotary grid within the housing for supportin the cans, radial partitions arranged in the casing movable with the grid and forming separate compartments in the housingfor the cans, means for injecting a cleaning liquid into and onto a can in one of the compartments, means for injecting steam I into a can in one of the compartments, means for injecting water into a can in one of the compartments, an air chamber, arranged below the tank and adapted to be heated by the contents of the latter, a curved conduit immersed in the liquid of the tank, means to inject steam into the conduit to entrain the tank liquid through the conduit and thereby impart a rotary movement to said liquid to facilitate the skimming of the latter, and means to. supply heated air from the alr chamber to one of the compartments, and a stationar' skimmer against which the rotating liqui moves. V

11. In an ap aratus for cleaning cans, a cylindrical liquid collection tank, a housing mounted above the latter to receive the cans, a rotary grid within the housing for supporting the cans, means for en plying a cleaning liquid to the cans, a curve condult arrange eccentrically within the tank and immersed in the liquid of the latter, a steam manifold, and a steam discharge pipe leading from the latter projecting into one end of the conduit \and forming an annular opening in said end,

whereby steam from saidpip: will entrain the cleaning liquid in the I into the conduit and impart a rotary movement to said liquid to facilitate the skimming of the latter.

12. In an ap aratus for cleaning-cans, a cylindrical liquid collecting tank, a housing mounted above the latter, a rotary grid within the housing for supporting the cans in the housing, means for supplymg a cleaning liquid to the cans on the nd, a curved conduit arranged eccentrics y within the tank and immersed in the liquid therein, a steam manifold, and a pipe leading from the'latter rejecting into one'end of the conduit and orming an annular o ning in said end, whereb steam from sai' ipe will entrain the liquid in the tank intot e conduit and impart a rotary movement to said liquid to facilitate the skimming of the latter, a cone.

denser mounted in thetank connectedwith the manifold, a water dischar nozzle mounted in the tank connected wit the condenser, and arran to inject water into the cans on the grid, a steam discharge nozzle connected with the manifold, and arranged to inject steam into the cans, valves in the connection between the nozzles and manifold, means for rotating the grid, and means operated bythe rotating means for actuating the valves. V V 13. In arm-apparatus for cleaning cans, a tank, a housing mountedon the latter, a rotary grid within the housing for an porting the cans, means for rotating the means movable with the grid for holding t e cans on the latter, directly 0 posed means for ininto the tank and housing in opposite directions into and onto jecting a cleaning fiui the cans, a nozzle for'injectingsteam into nected with the condenser and arranged to the cans on the grid, a steam condenser in the means for rotating the grid for actuatthe tank, means for supplying steam to the ing said controlling means. condenser, a water discharge nozzle 0011- In testimony whereof We names to this specification.

JOSEPH OCONNELL. HAROLD HAMILTON KERR.

inject Water into the cans on the grid, means for controlling the. supply of water and steam to the nozzles, and means operable by have signed our 1. 

